Telephone-transmitter cut-out.



Ay R. LANGDON.

TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER GUT-OUT.

APPLIOATION FILED Jima, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

f VENTO/e.

85ML@ f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN R. LANGDON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TELEPHONE-TRANSMITTER CUT-OUT.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN R. LANGDON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Telephone-Transmitter Cut- Out, ot which the following is a specitication.

My invention relates tothe class of devices employed for rendering the diphragm of the transmitter of a telephone temporarily inactive so that conversation will not be transmitted during such periods, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device of this class, of extremely simple and cheap construction, one etlicient in its operation, and one which may be readily attached to instruments ofcommon construction without disarrangement or change of the mechanism.

One form of device embodying my inven tion, and in the construction and use of which the objects above set out, as well asothers, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a telephone, showing my improved cut-out attached thereto, the latter being cnt in section. Fig. 2 is a view in section through my improved attachment. Fig. 8 is an end View of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the upper part of the post of a telephone set, having the usual lever 6 (broken off) that, contains the fork for supporting the receiver. The post also supports a transmitter 7 pivotally attached thereto and having a wire 8 connected with the diaphragm in the transmitter and with wires extending downwardly through the post 5 in the usual manner.

In attaching my improved device to an apparatus of this kind, I provide a small box composed of a base 9 of insulating material to which a cover 10 is preferably removably secured, this cover also being composed of insulating material, and having slots 22 in its lower edge, one in a side wall and one in an end wall, Within which the wire 8 is received, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A clip having spring arms 11 is secured to the base 9, the spring arms being soformed that they may frictionally grasp the" reduced portion 12 of the post 5, from which it will be seen that my attachment is removably secured in place. Other Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application led January 8, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

seriaiNo. 740,789.

than rictional means may be employed t0..

effect the hold of the arms if desired. 1n attaching the spring arms to the base." I preferably employ rivets '13 extending through the base and through the clip, these rivets also serving to secure a contact 14 in place within the box. A\ wire receiving contact 15 is also secured within the box, preferably by molding a pait oi the contact within the material of the box, that is thus insulated from other parts, this wire receiving contact having a groove 16 to receive a bared portion 17 of the wire 8 that has the insulation removed for the purpose oi forming an electrical connection between the wire and the Contact. l

A reciprocating switch rod 18 is mounted in the box, projecting therefrom at one end and having a thumb piece 19, by means of which the rod may be moved. A spring 20 is mounted on the rod with one end secured underneath a metallic cap 223 and held at its other end by the c ontact 14. said spring acting by compression to hold the rod at the outward limit of its play, and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

A cover retaining clip consisting of sprine arms 21 projects in position to removably hold the cover 10 securely in place, in a preferred form of construction, and as shown herein, this clip being formed integrally with the clip for securing the box to the telephone set. The cover is detached from the mechanism within the box and may be removed without disturbing the inclosed parts. the rod 18, that is preferably composed of insulating material, projecting through a slot extending to the edge of the cover, thus permitting such removal, said slot being closed by a tongue 24 projecting from the base.

F rom the above description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily seen that when the rod 18 is moved so that the cap 23 rests against the contact 1G, the electric circuit through the wire 8 to the transmitter, is short circuited through the contact 15, cap 23, spring 20, contact 14, rivets 13 and spring arms 11` to the post. 5 upon which it is groundeth7 it being understood that in the telephone set herein illustrated the return current from the transmitter is through t-he metallic post to the return wire in the set.

My improved attachment provides means for effectually temporarily preventing the transmission of sounds, as of conversation, by the transmitter, and the construction is such that the device may be quickly and readily attached to any telephone in` common use and without disarrangement of any of the parts of the telephone instrument.

lVhile I have shown and described herein a preferred form of device with which the ldesired results may be obtained, this may be changed more or less without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention, which is therefore not limited to the exact form of device herein disclosed.

I claim:

l. In combination with the support fora telephone transmit-ter and with the regulation electrical conductor for the diaphragm thereof, a contact sustained by said support and in touching engagement with said conductor, and a switch member sustained by said support and movably mounted to engage said contact, said switch member being electrically connected with the return circuit of said diaphragm.

2. A switch device for a telephone set including a base, a contact secured to the base and insulated from other .conducting parts, said contact having means to engage and retain the Wire for conducting the current to the diaphragm of a telephone transmitter, a switch member movably mounted on said base, means for securing the base to a Set of telephone instruments, and an electrical connection between said movable member and said securing member.

3. A switch device vfor a telephone set, including a base, a contact secured to the base and insulated from other conducting parts, said contact having means to receive the Wire for conducting the current to the diaphragm of a telephone transmitter, a switch member movably mounted on said base, means for securing.- the base to a set of telephone instruments,and a permanent electrical connection between said movable member and said securing members.

4. A switch device for a telephone set,

the path of movement of said switch member, said contact being insulated from'other conducting parts and having means to receive a wire.

5. A switch device for a telephone set, including a base, a clip to removably secure the base in position, a contact securedto said base and having a slot to receive the loop of a wire, said contact being insulated from other conducting parts, and a switch member, movably mounted on the base to engage said contact, and electrically connected with said clip.

6. A switch device for a telephone set, including a base,a spring clip secured to said base, a contact mounted on the base and insulated from other conducting parts and having means to receive the loop of a wire, a cover removably secured to said base and provided with means to receive said wire, and a switch member movabl)r mounted. on the base Within said cover in position to engage said contact, said switch member being electrically connected with said clip.

7. A switch device' for a telephone set, including a base, a clip to removably secure the base in to the base and msulated from other vconducting parts, a cover having slots in its osition, a contact securedl edges to receive a wire passing to said conl 

